Question

What is it about the structure of methyl alcohol that would result in two major peaks in its NMR spectrum?

Answer 1

Explanation:

In case of methyl alcohol , i.e. , CH₃OH ,

counting the equivalent protons , there are three protons of the methyl group at are all equivalent  , and shows the chemical shift at 3.4 - 4.0 ppm , there is the increase in the chemical shift value due to the presence of an electronegative oxygen atom .

And there is one more hydrogen atom in the alcoholic functional group , and this hydrogen will also show a chemical shift at 5.0 - 5.5 ppm .

Therefore ,

Methyl alcohol will show two signals due to methyl proton and another due to OH hydrogen .